DARE is an interdisciplinary project in social (assistive) robotics that combines philosophical expertise (social ontology, social phenomenology, axiology, ethics), anthropological field research, and constructive design research. With focus on assistive robotics for independent living of older adults, the DARE project will investigate the complex interplay between the dynamics of value hierarchies (e.g., autonomy vs. dignity), self-conceptions in aging, and robot appearance. Drawing on recent design studies of shape-changing objects, we introduce a new design category, “enabling social interiors”, and investigate how it can support positive conceptions of aging. The project is relevant for the physical and kinematic design of social robots in general, since it investigates the contextual relationship between value experience, social cues in robotic movements, and acceptance of robots.

The relationship between ‘design spaces’ and user values currently constitutes an important research gap in assistive robotics.  The DARE project addresses this relationship by way of design-centered approach that draws on the unique conceptual and methodological resources of ISR (Integrative Social Robotics), a R&D paradigm for culturally sustainable social robotics as developed at the research unit RISR. (Background information on ISR is provided at the project’s webpage).  DARE will also benefit from close collaborations with the ACUTE project (link) which explores the design category of “artifact inspired robots” experimentally.